Tubular axle



'Sept 6, 1932. w. J. ASSE., 1,875,797

TUBULAR AXLE Filed Feb. 2, 1951 lll/IIlIIllIllIl/IlllllllllVII/Ih ll/l l 1 uNi'rE-n As'rA'lP-"S PATENT' OFFI waarna :mism or carrez, ommemaro m 'runnin aommamamecoll--- rm, or carrer, omo, a ooaroaanon or omo @runen meinung a. mi. amera. tiao.

- This invention relates to tubular axles, es-

axles ofthetype that are rovided with swinging knuckles'at their-en The princi al objects of the invention are to sim- 5 plify e construction and the proce of assembling the parts of. the axles, andto produce an axle ofgreat strength and lightness. The invention consists rincipally in inserting in the ends of thetu axle body `certain mem- 10 bers tlliat serve tofreiioree the tubular bllly, rovi ebearings' or espring'securing ts nd for the knuckle pins and are adapted to automatically shape the ends of the tubular .body for frictional engagement with such re- 15 inforcing members and fpr better taking care of the mechanical strees to which the end portions ofthe axle are subject in service.

The invention further consists in the rocess hereinafter described and claimed an in the 9 combinations and arrangements of parts here inafter described and claimed.

`In the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like paris wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is 'a side elevation of an axle embody# in .my invention,

ig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the left end portion of the axle shown in Fig. 1, the endmo; portion of the tube and the solderin 1 or welding material being shown inverti section.

Fig. 3 is a view of the end portion of an axle, showing the end ofthe tube in horizontal section and showing the insert in plan,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the end-portion of the axle on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2,

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are vertical eros-sections on he lines 5-5, 6 6 and 7`-7, respectively, of

The body portion 1 of my axle is'a section of commercial tubing of circular cross-section. AInto each end of this tubular body is pressed a memberk v2, hereinafter called an insert,

u which operates., after the manner of a mandrel, to change the crosssectional shape of the viciently to bring end portion of the tubular body from a circle, as shown in Fig. 7, to an oblo form, that is to a ferm which has substanti ystraight and relatively short top 3 and bottom 4, and sides 5 that are relatively long and slightly con` vexed, the corners of theoblong being rounded,allasshownin-Figs.5and6. The insert comprises an elongated body portion of I-section `6,31. front or inner endportlon 7, and a rear or outer end The top and bottom surfaces of the y portion of the insert are substantially fiat and parallel land aced apart a distance slightly greater than e diameter "of the-circular portion of the tubular body. At'their front ends, 00 said top and-` bottom surfaces converge suf' them closer together at the ti 9 than the diameter of the circular portion o the tubular body. The front o r inner end portion of the insert has vertical ribs 10 at its 05 sides that are slightly convexedendwise and rounded at their outer corners, the horizontal distance between the outer surfaces of said ribs being less than the diameter cf the circular portion ,of the tubular body. This front 7 endfof the tube is provided with a vertical hole 11 for the spring fastening bolt, which hole is preferably drilled therein after the insert is mounted 1n the tubular body.

The rear or outer end of the insert is pref'- 75` erably in the shape of a solid plug of proper size and shape to it in the ob1ong end of the tubularbody, with the greater portion of the plugupdrojecting beyond the end of said tubular y. Itis convenient to make the part 9 of the plug which enters the tubular body of the same size. and shape as that 'ven the bore by the mandrel action of the 4ont end of the insert; but it is obvious that such plug may be shapedtor itself function as a mandrel 85 to further tighten the grip of the metal on said plug. The`projecting portion of the ,plug 1s provided with a vertical hole or bore "12 to receive the lmuckle in or bearin therefor; and it/is also provi ed with a horirtion 8. i

zon'talior cross-bore 13 for a lockingpin. The portions ofthe top and bottom of the middle or body portion of the insert are preferably made of reduced width, and the tip ofthe front end portion is preferably rounded.

In building my axle, the tip of the front end of the insert is entered into the end of the circular body tube, and is then pressed endwise therein. In this operation, the fron-t end of the insert functions as a mandrel which spreads apart the top and bottom of the body tube and at the same time causes the sides of such tube to approach each other and hug the vertical ribs 10 of the insert, the result being that the body tube takes the same form as a section through the' side ribs of the front portion of said insert. As the end of the tubular body receives its crosssectional shape partly'from the ribs at the front end of the'insert` such cross-sectional' shape extends inwardly of said tubular body as far as said ribs, that is, as far as the spring seat for locating and securing which .the bolt hole is located between the ribs of said insert. Of course, the bolt` hole extends through the body tube as well as through the insert itself. It is noted as a special merit that the change from the circular section of the tubularbody to the oblong section is quite gradual as shown at 15, and does not involve any great working of the mental or concentration of stress therein such as would be involved by abruptly changing the shape of the axle by means of forging dies. i

By reason of the shape and size of the insert relative to the bore of. the body tube, the operation of forcing the insert into the body tube efects such a press-fit between them that the insert is held firmlv in place by friction. In addition to this frictional engagement. it is desirable torweld the parts together. For instance` as indicated at 14. the endmost portion of the body tube may be autogenously welded to the solid portion of the insert thatprojects therefrom; and the body tube mav be spot-welded to the ribs and top of the front end of said insert. as indicated at 16.

Preferably. the insert is made as a dieforging, and the holestherein are made after the insert is mounted in the body tube. Likewise, the hole for the spring-bolt is Ypreferably made in the body tube -after the insert is mounted in said body tube. As the insert is frictionally held in the first instance, it is readily adjustable in case of necessity'at any time prior to welding. It is noted that the end portions of the axle are inclined upward i ly at a slight angle throughout the length of 'so Y v the insert.

What I claim is:

1. An axle comprising a hollow tubular body of circularsection throughout its middle portion, and inserts welded in the ends of said tubular body,'each insert comprising an inner end portion inside of saidtubular body, an outer end portiony partly inside and width than the diameter of the circular borev of the tubular body but' increasing gradually in depth beyond such diameter, and said inner end portion also having convex vertical ribs on its sides in position for the side walls of the tubular body to press against when said insert is forced into said tubular body. v

' 2. An body of circular section throughout its middle portion and with its end portions inclining slightly upwardly and outwardly, and inserts mounted in the ends of said tubular body, each insert comprising an inner end portion inside of said tubular lbody, an outer end portion partly inside-and partly beyond. the end of said tubular, body and an intermediate portion, said ,inner end portion being at its tip of less depth and width than` the diameter of the circular bore of the tubular body but increasing gradually in depth beyond such diameter, and said inner end portion also having convex vertical ribs on its sides in position for the side walls of the tubularbody to press against when said insert is forced into said tubular body.

3. An axle comprising a hollowltubular body of circular section throughout its mid- ,dle portion, .and inserts in the ends' of said tubular body, each insert comprising an in-l ner end portion inside of said tubular body, an outer end portion partly Vinside and partly outside of said tubular body and an intermediate portion, said inner end portion being at its tip of less depth and width than the diameter of the circular boreof the tubular body but'increasing gradually depth vbeyondl such diameter and said inner', end

portion also having convex vertical ribs on its sides in' position for the sidewalls of the tubular body to press against when said insert is forced into said tubular body, a cross section through the inner part of the outer size and shape as a cross section of the inner end portion through its ribs,'said insert havner and outer end portions.

axle comprising ahollow tubular `end portion being substantially thesame in ling vertically disposed 'holes through its inl 4.-. An axle comprising a hollow tubular body of circular section throughout its middle portion, and inserts in the ends of said tubular body, each insert comprising'an inner end portion" inside of said tubular body,

an outer end portion partly inside and partly outside of said tubular body and an intermediate portion, said inner end portion being at its tip of less depth and width than the diameter of the circular bore of the tubular body but increasing gradually in depth beyond such diameter and said inner end portion also having convex vertical ribs on January 1931.

y WALTER ASSEL. 

